D.C. plunks Tampa, Sardines make up ground

The Mighty Men made it two straight against Vancouver, as Gil Meche, the former prized prospect of the Fist, pitched a gem (6.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K) against his former team. Vancouver has now dropped 4 out of their last 5 against the bottom two teams. "We're just saving up our good stats for the teams that matter" said utility man Maicer Izturis. The comment sparked a firestorm in the Marietta locker room, where manager Graig Nettles predicted a sweep after tomorrow's game. "We're gonna take the brooms out and shove it up where the sun don't shine" said Nettles after placing Izturis' photo on the dartboard in the team's locker room.

Meanwhile D.C. made their case for the playoffs with a 12-0 shellacking of Tampa Bay. Ryan Freel, Jeff Kent, and Jose Reyes each had 3 hits and Shawn Hill pitched 6 innings of 3-hit ball. After splitting the first two games, today's game three takes on some importance for the Plunkers. "We were drained after yesterday's emotional game" said catcher Jason Varitek, "but we'll be ready for tomorrow's game." Because Hillsborough lost, the Plunkers still remain 2 games behind the final playoff spot.

However, Sardine City managed to pick up a game on the Hitmen with a 7-6 nailbiter over slumping Philadelphia. The Sardines exploded for four runs in the seventh inning to take the lead and just barely held on in the bottom of the ninth to take the narrow victory. The Straphangers now sit 2 1/2 games behind Hillsborough.

Hoboken rolls along

Hoboken continued their roll, smashing Marietta 14-6. Mighty Men starter Gil Meche was mercilessly pounded for 11 runs in five innings, earning the starter a spot on the bench. "He's lucky we didn't go to Paul Byrd" said owner David Landsman after the game. Meche's ERA ballooned to 6.96. Hoboken's Vicente Padilla improved to 10-3 on the season, despite giving up five runs. Josh Bard and Ian Kinsler each had four RBIs and a homer in the game. Hoboken has now won six straight and is only 1/2 a game behind Marietta, who lost four in a row.

David Ortiz continues to mash the ball, hitting two homers in a 5-4 loss to Carolina yesterday. Ortiz now has 32 homers on the year. Chris Carpenter rebounded well after his 11-run performance last week - pitching seven shut out innings, but the Vancouver pen blew it with a 5-run eighth inning which included a bases-loaded walk.

Carlos Beltran's 5 RBI led D.C. to a 12-4 rout of the Falcons. John Maine pitched six shutout innings despite surrendering six walks and five hits.

New Jersey's Tom Gorzelanny held the Rat Pack to only three hits and two runs over eight innings. The rookie has had some trouble with run support this year, but managed to get his fourth win of the season. Gorzelanny is only 4-8 despite a decent 4.17 ERA this year.

Newark barely survived their game against Sardine City yesterday. After a close 4-4 tie led the game to extra innings, the Straphangers played "small-ball" in the top of the 10th and manufactured the go-ahead run. Usually reliable B.J. Ryan was brought in to close the game in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't meant to be. Nick Johnson scored to tie it on a Nick Swisher single and then later Manny Ramirez singled in Mark DeRosa to win it for the Sugar Bears.

Brandon Webb and Aaron Harang both pitched complete games in yesterday's South Boston-Philadelphia game, but it was Harang who came out on top. Harang limited the Animals to only one run on three hits, while striking out 10.